Paddington.
INDEED my dear brethen in the Lord Jesus Christ, my great labour and incumbrances make me forget many things. In the spring of the year I was engaged in publishing the banns of marriage between my Master and many more. All the summer I have been busy in reaping and carrying corn; the hot weather has taken away many shocks, coming, ascending in season. At present we are busy in ploughing and stirring the fallows, breaking the clods, and grubbing up the thorns. All the winter I shall be busy in threshing in hope, and beating the mountains, while my Master fans away the chaff. My curates at present are all engaged, they have set up for themselves, and I am saddled with the duty; and my flight must not be in the winter, because of my tottering tabernacle, nor on the Sabbath-day, because I cannot be spared. I have been two journeys already, and I have two engagements more; I have many frowns and sour looks for this. Having therefore stood proxy for my Master, and married a wife for him, I cannot come, therefore have me excused.
I hope to come and see my son before I die, and to be a witness of his glory in Egypt, but I am afraid to say when, because I am not my own master, and being the servant to an elect lady, I am not my own man; my mistress being of high rank, takes a deal of waiting on; I have all the shoes to clean, that their feet may be properly shod, and the beds to make as under chamberlain; for if they make them themselves, they are always so short, and the coverings so narrow, they cannot wrap themselves in them. What with lighting the candles, sweeping the house, carrying the lanthorn, girding up my loins, and running before, I have work enough; I am Jack of all trades, servant of all work, and master of nothing.
I wish you all the presence and the blessing of the Lord of all lords, and sincerely wish that you may not act as Paul did to the Galatians, that is, change your voice. That his doctrine may be yea, and amen, and that your voice may not be Hosanna now he is upon the ass, and crucify him when he drives out the buyers and sellers. That he may be at a point, and you at a certainly, the prayer and desire of, dear brethren,
Your Brother in Christ,
and fellow-servant in his kingdom and patience,
W. HUNTINGTON.
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